Considering WLS - questions, please help!

[Mazza]

Hi everyone

My names Mazza, Im 39 and I live in Coventry. I have around 6 stone to lose to get to a healthy BMI. I have tried every diet under the sun but just seem to keep gaining weight. I am considering WLS - gastric band. I have recently moved so need to register with a GP, I have heard that my PCT Coventry & Warwks do not fund WLS. I have got private medical insurance and think/hope that if my GP refers me this may cover the surgery. Also my lovely mum has offered to help pay if I cant get it via the NHS or though my PMI.

My questions are: are GP's generaly 'happy' to refer you to a specialist - I dont think I could stand another lecture from another GP on diet and exercise!

Anyone in my area - who were you referred to?

And finally has anyone had the surgery paid for under their PMI.

Any help and advice would be great.

Thanks

Mazza x

 

[charliegirl]

Hi Mazza and welcome to minis. I had no trouble getting referred by my GP...I did however change which doctor at the surgery I asked. I had been seeing one for almost two years about my ever increasing weight and she did try a variety of methods but none worked....ie tablets, weight management classes etc. She got a bit fed up with me in the end. I was being treated for asthma, menopause and depression and finally I had had enough of the sickly headaches I got with sleep apnea (was not diagnosed at the time). I broke down one day whilst talking to the nurse. She ran some tests and found out I did not have asthma and was not menopausal. I knew I was fed up and not depressed so that solved all three. She advised me which doctor to speak to about the WLS and he referred me no questions asked. The referral is usually the easy part and getting the funding can be a little harder in some cases near on impossible. You have a fall back plan so you should be fine and if you go private I dont think you need the referral. Good luck chick and ask away any questions....to date I have lost over three and a half stone and even my blood pressure has dropped so my meds need to adjusting on there. My sleep apnea is cured so no headaches and I was getting them daily and nothings shifts them...its all so very very positive after surgery...xx

 

[Mazza]

Thanks for the reply and advice Charliegirl - well done on your weight loss thats fantastic!

Hopefully I will find a supportive GP to refer me - I do still need a referral even if I go private beacuse I'm hoping they will pay for it!

And my mum, bless her, has offered to pay because she doesnt want me to end up like her. She is 63 and morbidly obese, is diabetic, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, cannot walk without aid and sadly had a heart attack late last year. She has been told that WLS would kill her :cry:

Thanks again

 

[teen]

Hi and welcome Mazza My Dr was great and refered me as soon as I asked

Hope you get what you want

 

[tesmaralda]

here is the funding criteria for coventry, dont know how up to date it is but you could always phone them and check

CoventryBMI over 45 with type 2 diabetes or BMI over 50 with comorbidities which are likely to be improved with weight loss or BMI over 65 without comorbidities. Patients must have failed to achieve or maintain weight loss after one years intensive management in a specialist obesity clinic setting.


Having looked at your stats and current bmi of 34 it is highly unlikely you'd get funding as NICE guidelines are minimum of 35 but your pct has taken it further stipulating a minimum of 45 bmi with comorbidities. So private may be your only option.

 

[shelbell]

Hi Mazza,

If your stats are up to date then with a BMI of 38.2 you would struggle to get funding through the NHS.

My knowledge of PMI isn't extensive, but from what I know it is nigh on impossible to get bariatric surgery covered through it. Worth asking though!

Don't recall anyone on here being under the same PCT, but again, I could be wrong!

If you consider going private, there are lots of private banders on here who have used a variety of different providers and so you can get a real insight into how they work.

Hope things go well with your GP

Shel

 

[Mazza]

Hi Mazza,

If your stats are up to date then with a BMI of 38.2 you would struggle to get funding through the NHS.

My knowledge of PMI isn't extensive, but from what I know it is nigh on impossible to get bariatric surgery covered through it. Worth asking though!

Don't recall anyone on here being under the same PCT, but again, I could be wrong!

If you consider going private, there are lots of private banders on here who have used a variety of different providers and so you can get a real insight into how they work.

Hope things go well with your GP

Shel

Hi Shell

Thanks for your reply, yes looks like I would be ruled out for NHS as my BMI is too low lol! Thanks to Tes for providing the criteria for Coventry.

I dont know much about PMI either but when I was looking on a surgery website it mentioned funding though medical insurance - worth a try I suppose.

Fallback option will be private with help from my mum

 

[Mazza]

Hi and welcome Mazza My Dr was great and refered me as soon as I asked

Hope you get what you want

Hi thanks for your reply - seems that the referral is the easy bit!

Well done on your losses!

 

[mintball]

I'm with Benenden private healthcare and they don't fund weight loss surgery, its worth giving urs a call to check. I paid privately after getting knocked back twice from PCT even though I did meet NICE criteria x x x

 

[Mazza]

Thanks Lisa

I'm thinking going private may be my best option. I have contacted a few places (UK only) and the prices for a band vary slightly but are around £6800.

Well done with your loss by the way x

 

[teen]

Hi Mazza not sure if you no but the link to your facebook take me to the ticker website

 

[Mazza]

Hi Teen - no I didnt know that! if you want to add me you can find me as Maryann Fletcher in the West Midlands network, I think I'm the only one.

Will change the link!

 

[teen]

Thanx Link is working now lol

 

[mintball]

Thanks Lisa

I'm thinking going private may be my best option. I have contacted a few places (UK only) and the prices for a band vary slightly but are around £6800.

Well done with your loss by the way x

Thanx Mazza x x x

 

[Mazza]

Thanx Link is working now lol

Added you !

 

[jaynefrances]

Its still worth while chatting to your GP, it may be that there are health implications or hereditary factors that may affect the situation - you've got nothing to lose ! I found that some of the GP's in my practice are more approachable about the subject than others, so put the feelers out first !
Good luck, whatever route you choose x x

 

[Mazza]

Thanks Jayne - will give it a try!

 

[lozzers_losing_weight]

Hi Shell

Thanks for your reply, yes looks like I would be ruled out for NHS as my BMI is too low lol! Thanks to Tes for providing the criteria for Coventry.

I dont know much about PMI either but when I was looking on a surgery website it mentioned funding though medical insurance - worth a try I suppose.

Fallback option will be private with help from my mum

Hi Maz, and welcome

I think, if you check the website you were on again, you may find that it was an american web site which is why it talks about getting the surgery through pmi as they dont have a national health service like we do. I dont know a huge amount about it but i would guess it is not something that is covered with pmi in the uk.

 

[quetiapina]

Hi Mazza, The Hospital Group, based atDolan Park Hosp. near Bromsgrove do a "Why Go Abroad" package, which at your BMI would be £4,950. I'm going with them but sadly have a much higher BMI than you and will cost £500 more. I researched a lot and this was the best deal I could find. This includes, bed, surgery, follow up x-ray. You are in one night. I'm getting mine done on 22nd. Other people on here have also been to Dolan Park. You would have to pay for your own fills at £125 each, but I will find it easier to save this money every few months than have the £7,500 full package.
Lv Jenni x

 

[CCPM]

Hi

Bupa don't cover wls and when I was enquiring about it with them they said they didn't know of any PMI that did. So private would seem to only be self funding.

Hope that helps

M